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UFS Business School signs MOU with University West, Sweden

18 November 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Tania Allen

Business School Partnership 2024 — Prof Per Assmo from University West, Sweden and Prof Anthea Rhoda from the UFS signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will develop academic cooperation across fields such as research, student and academic exchanges, and collaborative projects.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University West, Sweden. Held at the UFS Business School on the Bloemfontein Campus, the event saw the signing of the agreement by Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, and Prof Per Assmo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation at University West. The partnership aims to develop academic cooperation across fields such as research, student and academic exchanges, and collaborative projects.

This MOU opens the door to a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including academic and researcher exchanges for the purposes of teaching, conducting lectures, conducting research, and exchanging expertise. Additionally, the MOU includes student exchange programmes, joint research projects, and the shared hosting of seminars and conferences.

Prof Rhoda shared her enthusiasm to incorporate work-integrated learning (WIL) more widely at the UFS. “We are looking at work-integrated learning as an extension of engaged scholarship. It is something that we're looking forward to expanding,” she said.

Building a connected community

Prof Assmo explained that their institution, though small, has a unique approach that focuses on both production technology and work-integrated learning – a teaching model that goes beyond internships to provide students with practical, hands-on experience. "For us, WIL is a research field and academic discipline in its own right," he said.

University West is also the only university in the world to offer a PhD specifically in WIL, a programme it spent 20 years developing.

“We want to collaborate with South Africa as a strategic partner,” he said. The University West is already actively working with several South African universities, including the UFS, the Central University of Technology, the University of the Western Cape, and Tshwane University of Technology. “This would be the core for us, where we collaborate and find different forms within research and education, not restricted to any faculty or field as such.”

His vision also includes forming a larger ‘Nordic hub’ of connections across Sweden, Norway, and the European Union, along with a ‘regional hub’ in Bloemfontein. This way, universities can share ideas and resources to build a stronger, more connected community for the future.

A need for work-integrated learning

A working example of this partnership between University West and the UFS is the collaborative focus on integrated learning between Prof Liezel Massyn, Associate Professor in the UFS Business School, and Prof Kristina Areskoug Josefsson, Professor in Work-integrated Learning and Health Science from University West. They have a mutual commitment to improve educational practices through international partnerships and to advance integrated learning strategies. Together, they have already co-authored a research article and presented their findings at five conferences this year.

Prof Massyn said she realised that there is a need for work-integrated learning, specifically in the UFS Business School. “Initially, I thought our students were working, so they didn't need the work-integrated learning component. I then realised it could actually add a lot more value.”

Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen, Director of the UFS Business School, highlighted how this venture aligns with the university’s Vision 130, which aims to expand the UFS’ global footprint. “This partnership is an optimisation of the collaboration to contribute to Vision 130, expanding our reach globally while bringing practical value locally. We are looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, acting Dean Prof Frans Prinsloo discussed the potential for future projects. “Now that we have this collaboration agreement, there are many opportunities we can explore further,” he stated.

News Archive

UFS launches history book

2007-02-02


Attending the launch of the UFS history book were, from the left: Prof Stef Coetzee, Prof Francois Retief, Prof Wynand Mouton, Mr Pieter Cox (Chairperson on Sasol) and Prof Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS). Profs Coetzee, Retief and Mouton are former rectors of the UFS.
UFS launches history book The University of the Free State (UFS) today launched its history book titled, From Grey to Gold, on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. “The history of the UFS is one of faith, hope, struggle and determination. The book tells a fascinating story that stretches over a 100 years. It is divided into five main phases, which tells about the growth of the UFS from a poor Free State community to a mature university. Interesting stories about student days, sport, rag and hostel activities are included in each phase,” Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor said during the launch of the book. “One cannot know where you are going if you don’t know where you are coming from. You have a clearer idea of the issues facing an institution if you know the history. A book like this one is also an important source of reference for staff on the campus,” said Prof Fourie. The first research for the book was done from 1999-2003 by Prof Leo Barnard from the Department of History and a team of researchers. They also compiled the first manuscript. During the last three years, Prof Fourie was closely involved with the writing of the final phase and finishing off the history book project. “It was an honour to be so closely involved with the story of the UFS because now I have a better understanding of the institution, its people, its culture and its way of thinking. For any rector of a university, such an understanding of its institution is a requirement,” Prof Fourie said. The book is partly sponsored by Sasol. During the launch of the book, Mr Pieter Cox, Chairperson of Sasol said the company and the UFS have been partners for 57 years. “Both Sasol and the UFS are striving for excellence – Sasol for excellence in technology and the UFS for excellence in education,” said Mr Cox. “It was an easy decision when the UFS approached Sasol for financial support of the history book. Its a formidable piece of work, something Prof Fourie and the UFS can be proud of,” said Mr Cox. The book consists of more than 500 pages with hundreds of photos and a wide range of supplements of office-bearers, awards and achievements (including national and sporting colours). A timeline framework, putting the history of the UFS in context with the history of the Free State, South Africa and of the world, is also included. Besides the supplements, the history book also tells the story of amongst others the establishment of the UFS; the role of its founding fathers; black pioneers of transformation; the establishment and development of academic departments and faculties; student numbers; pioneers and trends in research; academic entrepreneurs; campus issues and campus politics; interesting facts and stories about student life (rag, intervarsity and cheerleaders, sport and the Springboks, hostel traditions); the admission of black students and anguish about race; language and culture; the development of the Main Campus; the Tickey and the Banana and much more. Emphasis is placed on a very high level of quality. “It is not every day that the university becomes hundred years old and the institution will be measured by the quality of the book. We cannot say the UFS is a university of excellence if the book does not reflect that,” Ms Edma Pelzer, Director: Physical Resources and Special Projects said. Ms Pelzer managed the project as part of the last mentioned part of her portfolio. The search for photographs was an important aspect of the book and it was a big task to find photographs and write captions. It took almost a year to translate and prepare the English edition and almost ten months to ensure the accuracy thereof, especially to correctly translate the typical Free State and UFS terminology and naturally to complete the English manuscript’s layout and proofreading. In the mean time the cover pages were designed and in September 2006 the manuscript went into the final print process. The Afrikaans title is: Van Sink tot Sandsteen tot Graniet. The cost of the book is R380 per copy. Those who already ordered the book will soon receive their copy. Orders can be placed by contacting Mr Dawid Kriel at UFS Marketing on 051 401 3409 or on the UFS web site at www.ufs.ac.za. The book is also available at Van Schaik Book Store on the Thakaneng Bridge, UFS Main Campus and at Fascination Books in Mimosa Mall, Bloemfontein. Media release Issued by: Lacea Loader Media Representative Tel: (051) 401-2584 Cell: 083 645 2454 E-mail: loaderl@mail.uovs.ac.za 2 February 2007

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